Oakland A's settle for split with Jays

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Oakland A's batter Derek Norris strikes out during the ninth inning of their matchup against the Toronto Blue Jays in Oakland on Sunday.

OAKLAND — The last-place Toronto Blue Jays were resilient this weekend, and they held their own against the surging A’s.

Edwin Encarnacion’s two-run homer and Yunel Escobar’s two-run single were instrumental Sunday in the 6-5 win that allowed the Blue Jays to split the four-game series against the A’s.

Toronto’s Aaron Laffey (3-2) pitched six innings, allowing six hits and four runs for the win.

With the Jays up 6-4 in the seventh inning, the A’s cut their deficit to one. Adam Rosales hit a one-out double to left. Coco Crisp doubled to right, bringing in Oakland’s first run since the third inning.

Josh Reddick, Oakland’s slumping run-producer, hit a three-run, third-inning homer into the right field seats for a 4-1 A’s lead.

Toronto answered in the fourth inning. After a bloop single to left by Anthony Gose, Encarnacion unloaded with a blast to left-center to make it 4-3.

Oakland starter Tommy Milone (9-9) got into a big jam in the fifth after he retired the first two batters. Davis hit a popup to short, but due to the bright, blue sky, Rosales lost sight of the ball, and it dropped in for an infield single.

“It was pretty tough, right off the bat, it went right into the sun, and usually [the ball] comes out,” Rosales said.